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How do you put a Jeep in neutral without the key?
How do you put a Jeep in neutral without the key? I need to do some maintenance on my spare car, but my sister has my key and I won’t see her for at least another month.
Melanie Mergen · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
To put a Jeep in neutral without a key will depend on the type of Jeep. The Jeep Compass’s brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system is designed to keep your vehicle in park unless the brakes are applied for safety purposes.
That interlock lever can be moved to allow you to shift into neutral without your key, but you need to be careful with it since you’ll be dealing with plastic components, and you’ll want to make sure the car is safely secure before attempting to switch gears.
On the Jeep Renegade, you should be able to find it by gently prying off the plastic cover around your gearshift lever, with the BTSI lever being located under that cover. Releasing it could allow you to shift your vehicle into neutral gear without needing to press the brakes to have your vehicle running.
However, if you’re not sure if what you’re looking at is the correct lever, or if you’re not sure how to proceed, consult a mechanic or Jeep service center before taking any action—you don’t want to accidentally cause any unnecessary damage to your vehicle. Alternatively, if this is your spare vehicle and you’re not in a rush to perform your maintenance, you could opt to wait to get the key back from your sibling.
You can find more information about the BTSI system in your owner’s manual.
Lastly, the lever should be moved back into place before driving your Jeep again—you don’t want to accidentally shift gears while driving or parking, and that’s why it’s there in the first place!
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